State leaders are moving to rename Nashville International Airport in honor of Dolly Parton, a move that has drawn broad public support and set up a September vote by airport officials.
Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee and the Nashville International Airport announced plans to rename the state’s flagship airport after Dolly Parton, the late country music icon, in a news release this week. The Metropolitan Nashville Airport Authority will take up the proposal at its meeting scheduled for September 17. Gov. Lee described the renaming as “a lasting tribute to her indelible legacy and the generations of people she inspired across Tennessee and around the world.”
Parton, who passed away at age 80 earlier this week, remains a towering figure in Tennessee’s cultural and philanthropic life. She grew up in rural East Tennessee and rose to global fame, becoming known not just for her music but for her commitment to charitable work, including the Dollywood Foundation and Imagination Library, which provide disaster relief and free books to children worldwide.
Public enthusiasm for honoring Parton in this way has been clear and sustained. An online petition to rename the airport after her gained momentum more than a year before her death, but has surged in recent days, passing 160,000 signatures by Friday night. Supporters argue that naming the airport after Parton would showcase “the Volunteer Spirit” she embodied and project Tennessee’s values to visitors from around the world. Gov. Lee, in his remarks, said, “At a place where Tennessee welcomes the world, it is fitting that Nashville International Airport would bear the name of our state’s favorite daughter and greet travelers with the enduring legacy of Dolly’s music, generosity, faith, and kindness.”
State Rep. Todd Warner pledged to introduce legislation supporting the name change, echoing the public campaign that’s been building on social media and in state government. Country singer Sheryl Crow also endorsed the idea, saying, “People are talking about trying to get the Nashville airport... changed to the Dolly Parton International Airport. I’m like, ‘Yes! I think we should.’”
The decision now rests with the Metropolitan Nashville Airport Authority, which will consider the proposal at its upcoming meeting. While the airport authority has the direct power to approve the renaming, current policy reportedly requires that honorees have been deceased for at least two years, a rule that may have to be reconsidered for this proposal to move forward, according to AP News. The authority has not yet announced whether it will amend its policy, leaving the outcome uncertain.
The petition to rename the airport was launched in January 2025, well before Parton’s death, with about 53,000 signatures at that time. It gained more than 50,000 signatures in the days following her passing, demonstrating a groundswell of support across the state and country. As the New York Post noted, the surge in signatures after her death reflects both her popularity and the resonance of the proposal with Tennesseans and fans nationwide.
Gov. Lee said he spoke with Parton’s team about the proposal, and described “their appreciation” for the effort. According to the Washington Examiner, her team has expressed openness to continuing the discussion, seeing the renaming as an example of Parton’s legacy of bringing people together “for good.”
Backing for the renaming is not just driven by grassroots support. State and city officials have engaged with the effort, with Rep. Warner pledging legislative action and supporters in the Nashville City Council also expressing interest, as reported by Fox News. The Metropolitan Nashville Airport Authority, however, will have the final say, as it holds the authority to approve or reject the change regardless of outside endorsements.
Gov. Lee’s office emphasized that the proposal reflects both Tennessee’s heritage and its future, stating, “From her rural mountain home in East Tennessee to global stages, Dolly carried the Volunteer Spirit with her.”
The outcome of the September 17 meeting will determine whether travelers arriving in Nashville will soon be greeted by a new name on the terminal, a name that, supporters argue, better reflects the heart and soul of the Volunteer State.
For a state that prides itself on honoring those who give back, the push to rename Nashville International Airport after Dolly Parton stands as a test of whether public will and shared values still matter in a world where bureaucratic rules too often trump common sense and gratitude.
